Riviere de Galets Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get real about the next couple of weeks. The long-range charts are showing some serious muscle building out there, but for the most part, we’re gonna be battling a cross-shore wind that’s going to keep things lumpy. The first few days are a write-off, honestly. There’s swell, but it’s junky. We’re looking at a fair bit of waiting before anything clean lines up.

The standout window is shaping up for Saturday, August 15th, and into Sunday the 16th. That’s when the energy really kicks in. We’ve got a big, long-period south swell pushing in, and the energy readings are massive – we’re talking 4899 on Saturday morning, jumping to a huge 7780 by the afternoon, and staying strong at 5084 on Sunday morning. This is a powerful groundswell, for sure. The water’s a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 76°F, which is a nice little bonus.

That Saturday afternoon, the swell is predicted to hit 10ft with a 19-second period from the SSW. But here’s the catch – that’s too big for Riviere de Galets. It’s a reef and point set-up that just won’t handle that kind of size. It’s going to be a washing machine. The wind is also cross-shore, so it’s not going to be pretty. For the experienced crew, there might be some looks, but for most of us, it’s a day to watch from the shore. The same goes for that Sunday morning, still 10ft from the SSW, but the period drops a touch to 17 seconds. Still too big and bumpy.

Before that, the rest of the week is a grind. From Saturday the 8th through to Friday the 14th, we’ve got swell in the 4ft to 8ft range, but the wind is just relentless from the ESE, keeping everything cross-shore and chopped up. The energy is moderate, but the quality is poor. There’s a little bump on Monday the 10th with 10ft from the east, but again, that’s too big for this break and the wind is still messy. The forecast notes say it all: marginal, poor. It’s a lot of paddle for not much reward.

After that big weekend, the swell backs off but the wind doesn’t give us much of a break. From Monday the 17th through to Friday the 21st, we’re looking at a mix of 4ft to 8ft swells, but the ESE wind is either fresh or moderate, and the conditions are described as poor. The energy drops right down, too. It’s a real flat, messy spell.

Now, there is one curious little glimmer right at the end of the window. On Saturday the 22nd of August, the wind finally shifts to a cross-off from the ENE. The morning is still a junky 7ft from the east, but by the afternoon, a new SSW swell with a 16-second period arrives at 3ft. The wind is clean and it’s cross-off. It’s small, but it’s the cleanest we’ve seen in a while. The energy is moderate (1221), so it won’t be a world-beater, but it might just be the only time you can get a proper, groomed wave off the point. It’s still a far-out call, so keep your expectations in check.

Bottom line: the big swell is on the way, but it’s too much for this spot. The in-between is a battle with the wind. That last Saturday is the one to keep an eye on for a clean, smaller session. It’s a long wait, so be patient.

Rusty

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